In 1828 Johannes Gerardus Cooymans (see left) founded the Cooymans' distillery which still bears the same company name. Cooymans had its distillery in the city center of ’s-Hertogenbosch. After it was destroyed by a bombardement during WW II the Cooymans Distilleries moved after the war to a completely new office and production plant near the central railway station.
In 1953 H.M.Q. Juliana Louise Marie Wilhelmina van Oranje-Nassau granted the Royal warrant and since then the company is named "Koninklijke Cooymans" (Royal Cooymans). Juliana, crowned as Queen of the Netherlands in 1948, handed over power to H.R.H. Crown Princess Beatrix in 1980.
In 1987, together with its affiliate, the famous wine merchants and distillers, André Kerstens in Tilburg, its Belgian subsidiary Belcolux and joint ventures in Romania and the Georgian Republic, Koninklijke Cooymans made part of the French multinational Groupe Pernod Ricard. Our company moved from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Tilburg in 1993.
In 2004 Groupe Pernod Ricard sold Royal Cooymans to a group of Dutch distillers, suppliers and liquor shop chains related to Distilleerderij M. Dirkzwager. This group belongs to the top 3 spirit and wine companies of the Benelux.
In 2005 H.M.Q. Beatrix van Oranje-Nassau granted the Royal warrant to Distilleerderij M. Dirkzwager and since then our parent company is named "Koninklijke Distilleerderij M. Dirkzwager B.V.". Due to this event Cooymans gave up it's Royal warrant and continues its business with the brand name 'Distillery Cooymans'. The official trade name is 'Distilleerderij Cooymans B.V.'.
Distillery Cooymans is originally based on low alcoholic spirits such as advocaat, the egg based brandy which the company's founder was most probably the first one to make, the assortment was enlarged and nowadays a complete range of spirits is produced whereas the wine section has significantly expanded and fruitwines have been added. In the Netherlands Distillery Cooymans is marketleader for soft spirits and plays an important role as exporter of a range of products - particulary cream liqueurs, advocaat, and likorettes - which is available in over 60 countries world wide. Famous brands are the delicious low-fat cream liqueur Millwood, Surfers Piña Colada and Coconut, Cooymans Royal Dutch Advocaat, Cooymans Vieux, Cooymans Advocaat, Legner, Koffiekaatje, Macho Tequila, De Korenaer, Commander, White Eagle, Alexandrow Vodka, Pisang Garoeda, Cherry Tradition etcetera, etcetera.
